"I'm now threatened with legal action" You didn't elaborate on HOW you were threatened. If you don't get it in writing it didn't really happen. If it was a pho

"I'm now threatened with legal action" You didn't elaborate on HOW you were threatened. If you don't get it in writing it didn't really happen. If it was a phone call follow up with an email to make things clear. You might find you get a fast retraction. Your employment status is a fact that isn't proprietary, so it would be hard to argue that it should remain confidential, but that depends on the terms of your agreement. In the end, you need a lawyer, not HN.